Second $600K boys home facilitates Youth Horizons’ program expansion

Construction started this week on the second house in a four-phase plan that will help Youth Horizons expand its residential care program for troubled youth.

The $600,000 house is on the 77-acre Kinloch Price Boys Ranch near Kechi.

With the new house, Youth Horizons can grow its residential and mentoring program.

“We’re trying to provide an environment and training ground that’s going to help (the kids in the program) become good men,” says Paul Comegys, Youth Horizons’ residential director.

Local businesses are chipping in to help through financial or materials donations.

“If the cause is legitimate, people do respond,” says Earnest Alexander, president of Youth Horizons.

The nonprofit organization raised money for the 7,000-square-foot facility during a time when nonprofit organizations have been hit hard by decreased revenue and donations.

Construction is starting on the second house two years after the first one opened at 11313 N. Woodlawn. It will house up to eight boys between the ages of 10 and 17. Hutton Construction Corp. paid $500,000 to build the first house. It is the contractor for the second as well. Shelden Architecture Inc. designed the house.

Alexander says the long process to get the second house built was made longer because Youth Horizons doesn’t borrow money for projects.

The house is being paid for with a $450,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank in Topeka. Westlink Christian Church gave $50,000, Cargill added $20,000 and Star Lumber & Supply $10,000. Other donations paid the balance.

Helping Those at Risk

Youth Horizons still needs to raise money to operate the second house, which could cost another $20,000.

The organization plans to hire four or five people to staff the new house.

Each resident has his own room and they all share two large bathrooms. A living room and dining room on the main level are visiting areas. The split-level house also features a large kitchen and a library. The house parents live in an attached two-bedroom apartment.

The new house will have a similar layout.

In 2006, Youth Horizons bought the ground for the Kinloch Price ranch with $400,000 given to them by supporters Dick and Harriet Price. Two years later, the organization opened its first house. Youth Horizons plans to build two more eight-person houses.

When Hutton Construction paid for the first house, it allowed the Federal Home grant money to be used for the second.

Mark Hutton, president of Hutton Construction, says paying for the first house was a way to give back to the community.

“It’s really the mission of Youth Horizons that my wife and I really appreciate,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity to (help) young men who can’t succeed unless they develop certain skills.”